Scott woke early the next morning; he had slept through the storm soundly which wasn't unusual for him. Tracy Island had some of the worst storms but even by that standard, last night's weather must have been a bad. He opened his eyes to the sight of a still and quiet room. No sun shone through the window and the hammering of rain against the glass slowly rose in its intensity as he came too from his slumber. He sighed casting a weary glance towards a clock that read seven AM. Just another day he thought to himself, which was until he cast his gaze towards a chair in the corner of the room. John sat there rocking backwards and forwards as he stared out at the rain and gloom of the day. His brother seemed pensive, thoughtful and brooding over something. A familiar sight where John was concerned, if it wasn't an update to Thunderbird five it was some way of discovering another galaxy or star.
"How long have you been up" Scott asked quizzically eyeing his brother.
"A few hours" John replied quickly.
Scott looked worried for a moment before he crawled to the end of his bed sighing as he rubbed at his sleep filled eyes. There were only two reasons that John didn't sleep, one was illness and the other... that was trouble. Even the stars didn't keep him awake for hours.
"Let's hear it then?" He mumbled getting ready for a long story.
John glared at Scott for a moment, at times he wondered if they were brothers at all but then no one really knew him better than Scott. They both seemed to understand one another and could just look and see what was wrong or bothering the other. It was funny at times, even their father had said they were polar opposites but shared more than he could ever understand. Taking a breath John's weary eyes met with Scott, the fresh faced man never seemed to need more than a few hours but they all knew Scott could sleep for weeks if he was allowed.
"There's nothing to hear Scott." He snapped, "What makes you think you'd understand anyway. You're the serial bachelor of the family."
Scott's eyes flared at the words, he knew exactly what was wrong and it didn't take him long to jump to the many conclusions that were possible. His mind was soaring through the various scenarios faster than Thunderbird one could fly.
"You slept with her? She's pregnant? John do you know what you've done!" He bellowed jumping from the end of the bed as he began to pace, running a hand through his hair before he turned to face John.
"We choose carefully John; we have one chance to find the right girl. You just go and ruin it all... dad won't ever let us leave the island again now. You have no idea what you've done" He ranted getting red faced as he balled his fists.
John couldn't believe what he was hearing, or what Scott had assumed he had done. More than anyone John knew that keeping the Thunderbirds a secret was important and the more Scott made the wrong assumptions the more the blonde didn't know what to say. For one when did he assume that John actually had the time to get a girl pregnant up on thunderbird five was beyond him, and then the spouting of the unwritten code that appeared to have been formed over the years well, they all knew it by heart. Sighing and deciding to take the worst of Scott's assumptions and lay them to rest John spoke.
"You think I've slept with her? Scott your way off base here, just listen to what you're saying... and who you're shouting at." John said as calmly as he could. "How can I get anyone pregnant from space? And this vacation is the second time I've even seen her. How fast do you think I work?"
Scott stopped dead in his tracks; of course this was John he was talking about. Not Gordon and Virgil who did every possible thing wrong. Taking a breath Scott looked at his perplex brother and nodded a short apology before grinning. It was funny how he was now assuming the worst of everyone, though where Alan had lead them the last few days it was more of a precaution to think the worst as anything better would be a surprise.
"Sorry bro, its Alan you know... always making me think the worst." He said laughing a little, "Yeah you got a point. You're really not that fast at working your groove"
Calming down a little Scott parked himself back on the end of the bed rubbing his forehead as he chuckled about his mistake. He gazed at John for a moment; the same lost and pondering look lingered on his face though now it had a more embarrassed tinge to it.
"You ever think about women?" John asked as his eyes fell towards the wooden floor.
"Do I ever? I am male John... course I think of them. So let's cut the crap here... what's got you all worked up? Or should I say whom?"
John laughed slightly rubbing a hand across the back of his neck nervously. He was sure he was going to make a fool of himself with the next words that fell from his mouth but still. Scott was a renowned playboy, someone who liked the ladies for a couple of nights but as of yet John hadn't seen his brother take to someone. At least not someone John knew of.
"I think I like someone. More than like someone but I don't know why or even how it's possible. It's not logical or sane. Mum always said there would be reason, everything has reason, cause and effect." He muttered glancing up towards Scott before dropping his eyes back to the floor.
"Oh don't tell me its little miss cowgirl down the hall? Is she the reason for your lack of sleep?"
Scott grinned at the thought; sure Christina was a nice looking woman. Well nice looking in jeans, and a shirt which was about the only things he had seen her wear. She didn't strike him as the dress wearing kind or the skirt for that matter but still what his tastes were always differed from John's.
"Maybe, I don't know. It gets complicated you know?"
Scott could see his brother was confused at best. A sight that he wasn't too familiar with as John had always been rational and stuck to facts never letting things get complicated, if anything John straightened the complicated out for the rest of them. He was always their voice of reason and sanity up on Thunderbird Five.
"What's complicated John, you either like her or you don't? Which is it?"
"That's just it. I do, and I don't and then there's the family to think of. I can't just go around and have a fling with every woman I see unlike some" He said raising a quizzical eyebrow toward his brother.
Scott laughed shaking his head, sure he liked to be the play boy but so did the people he was with. It was never serious and Scott liked his lifestyle so far. He wanted to find the 'one' as much as the next guy but he was in no rush to do so. It was something that he had the rest of his life for no matter how much Jeff was disgruntled with his choices of women.
"Forget the family for a minute. How can you like and not like? You're unbelievable man, I don't understand you one bit."
John chuckled at his brother everything in his eyes was easy when it came to women. If anything Scott was the natural, he could talk anyone into anything and in a way John admired him, yet in other ways John couldn't believe the things that Scott did. Alan had once likened him to an alley cat and John couldn't help but agree.
"Just get dressed and forget I ever said anything." John muttered regretting he had ever broached the subject.
The two carried on their banter as the readied themselves for the morning. They could hear the casual movement of others around the place as their feet landed on creaky floor boards that littered the place like a mine field. Scott couldn't see anyone getting anywhere without others knowing where they were about the place. In half an hour John and Scott were once again heading down the staircase towards a kitchen that looked as if a tornado has just swept through there. Empty plates littered the table, along with mugs that still held some remnants of coffee.
"What happened here?" Scott asked looking towards Cookie who stood stirring a large pan of scrambled eggs.
"Breakfast happened, that's what. Now its eggs, toast will be done in a bit and help yourself to coffee and whatever else you want" Cookie said not taking his eyes off the pan.
Scott looked at John before he began gathering the used plates and mugs from the table; they stacked them neatly next to the sink before they set to clearing the crumbs that had been left by a hungry mob that Christina affectionate called family. The table looked worse than it did when the Tracy's ate and had the emergency call. Coffee rings and spilled orange juice mixed to make one sticky mess that John set to clearing up with a damp cloth.
"And house trained too... you boys are full of surprises" Cookie said as he laid the pan in the middle of the newly clean table. "Who'd a thought it?"
"I taught them well." Jeff said as he strolled into the kitchen. "But not this well, what is it that you boys are after today?"
They saw Cookie chuckle as he turned his back using his good hand to move a few pan about the over sized stove.
"Why is it when we do something good, everyone assumes we want something?" Scott asked sighing heavily as he shook his head. "We did it out of the goodness of our hearts, and we were brought up with manners too. Typical, we can't do anything right these days Jonny"
John gave Scott a quick smirk as they took up seats at the table. It wasn't long before the rest of the family appeared wondering in and saying various good mornings to Cookie who looked at his watch impatiently. Jeff helped himself to coffee he couldn't help but notice the other man glancing at the clock that hung from the wall to the watch that was fastened to his wrist; it was almost every few seconds as he paced idly around the kitchen eventually resigning himself to fill the sink with water to wash the plates.
"Waiting for someone Cookie?" Jeff queried, "Time won't go any faster if you keep watching the clock"
"They should be back by now... it don't take this long I tell ya." He grumbled loading the plates into the sink.
He turned and sat at the table reaching for yesterdays paper that lay on the one of the many surfaces around the kitchen. Jeff watched his idol glances at the articles before looking towards the door and back to the clock. He couldn't help but wonder what was taking so long, it was a mystery and Cookie didn't seem all that willing to explain just what had him clock watching. Sipping some coffee Jeff saw that his boys had made a start at clearing the pan of its contents, sometimes he wondered if he had son's or vultures the way they liked to wolf down their food.
"What doesn't take this long?" Jeff asked looking at the clock in a hope to figure out just what was wrong.
It was as his eyes read the time that the front door burst open, the sound of rain pouring on already saturated ground filled the kitchen. A few seconds later Bill appeared limping in his usual fashion before flopping into the nearest seat. He reached for the coffee pot pouring the steaming hot liquid into a spare cup before taking a long drink. Jeff was surprised it didn't scald his mouth but then Bill seemed to be a different breed of man.
"Storm's getting worse. Forecast says another day and it will clear but we got a flash flood warning" Bill said staring at the faces that had stopped eating, "Don't worry your pretty little heads, it don't flood here, only the valley."
"How'd it go... and how's you know who?" Cookie asked with the faint sense of worry hampering his every word.
"Cattle are moved to higher ground, they should be dry on Devil's Ridge. That river though... looks like the banking won't last much longer, its already burst lower down." Bill said ignoring the stares that came from the Tracy family. "All's okay so far... and as for the whom, time will tell. Never gets any better ever after all this time."
"Who are we talking about?" Alan asked eagerly.
Bill just glanced at Alan before taking another long drink from his mug. Shuffling in his seat he pulled his jumper that was sodden with rain from his chest.
"The clothes. That rain goes straight through clothing" He muttered before looking out at the dark sky.
No sun shone and only the dark rain clouds inhabited the area making it appear to be nearing dusk even though it was only morning. The mountains that John had once thought held a certain appeal had the angry and vicious feel and look. It was clear just how small they appeared to be in the surroundings, it was somewhat awe inspiring even when the rain threatened to break its way into the house.
"That seals it then, boys your all house bound for the day." Cookie said smiling with definite pleasure in his words. "We don't want you washed away, so let's catch up with some home improvements."
Alan grinned to the point of laughing as Bill's stern gaze soon wiped it away. Alan couldn't see himself being house bound for a whole day, no way a little rain didn't scare him and as for being washed away. The likelihood of that was about one hundred to one; Alan fancied his chances of taking a look around the place before anyone could tell him any different. No, he definitely wasn't going to stick to the inside of the house no matter what anyone said.
"Alan you can start cleaning cobwebs in the attic." Bill grumbled pointing towards a tall thin door that held every kind of cleaning products and materials they needed. "The rest of you can pick a room and start dusting, there's enough to go at least thrice around. Meanwhile Jeff I think we have some papers to catch up with. Then probably some TV and after that... who knows."
"That's not fair!" Alan nearly yelled.
The boy began to glare losing what Cookie had seen as a mellow side to him disappear in a few seconds. Cookie expected the same as a few days earlier, things flying and a whole pile of people trying to resolve a fight that Alan appeared to want, yet this time it was only a raised voice, no fighting or even movement.
"I think I'll give Alan a hand in the attic." Jeff replied wanting to combat Alan's new grudge.
Alan grinned as his brothers scowled at him.
"Let's get going then." Alan said eagerly as he stood up heading towards the tall door that Bill had pointed out earlier.
"Kid I wouldn't open..."
Bill was too late. Alan had already opened the door which was followed by a cascade of bottles, brushes, cloths and mops. Several hit Alan square on the head which amused his brothers before their laughter was silenced by a single warning glance from their father. Grumbling Alan picked up a few cloths and some bottles. He didn't bother to read the labels as he shoved them into an empty bucket.
"Which way to the attic?" He asked tapping his foot impatiently as Jeff stood up.
"Last door on your right before the back door. Follow the stairs and its right in front of you" Bill said failing to hide the smirk that plagued his face.
"Right" Alan said marching off with the bucket swinging from his hand.
Jeff followed Alan bringing a brush and a few others things he assumed would be needed, leaving his son's clearing away the breakfast things before Bill set cleaning in several different rooms in the house. It was ironic Jeff thought, his son's hardly seemed to know how to clean on Tracy's island yet now they were working away or so he assumed that what they were doing.
Finding the attic Jeff flipped a switch at side of the door; a few lights clicked and whirled as the attic was thrust into the light. Alan was already stumbling around before he sat square in the middle of the floor. The dust plumed either side of him and the place had cobwebs hanging from every corner and crevice. The place didn't look like it was used for much apart from storage; a few large trunks were pushed up against a wall, while sealed and unsealed cardboard boxes were stacked against the far end. One small round window provided some light at the far end of the attic though between the boxes and the rain, the light wasn't much use.
"Alan, why are you acting like this?" Jeff asked perching himself on a trunk.
"Acting like what dad?"
"Come on Alan, grow up. It's about time you started to take responsibility like your brothers." Jeff said angrily.
"Oh yeah, just like them. Well that just it dad, I'm not like them. I don't fit in and how am I supposed to take responsibility when I don't get any because you don't trust me!"
"Do you have any idea why Alan? You can't be trusted; these last few days have shown us all just how immature you really are. Fighting with family, arguing with people, being darn right rude and obnoxious to people you do not even know."
Alan listened to his father; every single word had a way of digging deeper into him. He wasn't trusted, he was immature. He felt like screaming but he knew it wouldn't do any good, even fighting with his brothers got his father's attention but it didn't last long. No now even though he could easily fight the same if not better than them, he still wasn't good enough. Nothing he did was ever good enough, he'd found that one out a long time ago especially when he had been sent to boarding school. It was either his grades that were low which meant that he needed to work through the holidays on boosting them or he spent too much time with his head in the clouds.
"Can't be trusted! Immature... what about Gordon and Virgil? Their pranks are immature, Scott and his time off that's immature. What the hell would you know about me being rude, you're never around to see or hear. You never listen to me!" He yelled as his fists balled and he pushed himself from the floor. "If I'm not good enough just say dad, I'm not the Tracy you want me to be. Not good enough to have the name then fine... but don't act like you care, because I know you don't!"
With that Alan stormed off slamming the attic door as his footsteps echoed throughout the house. Bill listened as he sat in the kitchen; he heard one of the many doors slam before he began to make his way upstairs. His plan however strange hadn't quite gone as he had hoped. Sure he wasn't naive enough to think it would all be roses by the time the pair came back downstairs but he had hoped that for even a second the two could share some time together and have an understanding. Apparently understanding wasn't exactly the result but it was wishful thinking. He waved away some of the Tracy boy's who stuck their heads out to see what the ruckus was about.
"Jeff"
Bill announced shutting the attic door; he saw the man still perched on an old trunk. Its contents known to Bill who like Christina knew every inch of that attic and its contents.
"It went well the father son bonding time." Jeff muttered sarcastically.
"I did have hope for it." Bill replied, "Give it time, they always come around eventually"
"Speaking from experience?" Jeff asked looking wearily towards the older man.
Bill smirked nodding as he took a long breath. He dropped himself down on a box of old books as the dust formed clouds before it fell softly to the floor.
"Christina wasn't the easiest child to deal with either" Bill said taking another long breath. "She was much the same as Alan, maybe it's why the two butt heads, and they seem to be too much alike to get along."
Jeff laughed shaking his head at the thought, Alan and Christina the same. It seemed like chalk and cheese to him, but Bill appeared to be serious about what he had said. Sitting in silence for a moment Jeff sighed stretching his arms out in front of him.
"So you have any tips on dealing with Alan?" Jeff asked hoping for some guidance.
His wife Lucy would have known what to do, how to deal with his tantrums. She had done will all the boys, he had watched her sometimes as she sat and listened to what they said, sorting out the silly little squabbles that were inevitable. Even when he asked her the key to how she did it, the simple answer was a mothers intuition and listening. Jeff always tried to listen though over the years listening and pre-empting things became more his style. It had worked with the others but Alan, Jeff hadn't a clue.
"Patience that's all I can suggest. When he wants to talk he will, you can't force them or they will get worse and push you out." Bill said grinning, "You ever seen a kid refuse to eat for a week because you tell them to eat their veg, or not speak for three months because they were afraid and felt they had to act tough to get along with everyone else. That was the terrible eight's, nine's and ten's. The teens... now don't get me started on those years..."
Jeff laughed although he could quite see Christina being a force of nature when she wanted to be, just like Alan. There were times when Alan's hard headedness was a blessing and times when he only wished he could make him see sense. In a way he was glad that Alan had only recently started his phase as he called it, but how long could this phase last. Jeff didn't want it weeks long let alone months. It was a nightmare already and Jeff didn't know if he was doing right or wrong with him.
"What was so bad that she didn't speak for three months?" Jeff asked out of curiosity.
"It's not my place to say any more." Bill said as his face fell into a small frown. "But it's the storms, Christina hates them; I'm surprised you didn't hear her last night, though I did hear two people."
Bill paused for a moment as Jeff looked over. He could see a few thoughts running around the man's head, and now Jeff had a few of his own. Jeff didn't need things to be laid out on a plate for him to have a reasonable guess as to who else was with Christina. His first assumption was John as the day before they appear to get along well. Then again without confirmation from Bill it was better not to pry into it.
"Might as well leave it for another day, nothing urgent about cleaning up here" Bill said walking towards the door.
"Would you mind if I stayed for a while? Cleaning might help clear my head" Jeff asked.
Jeff saw Bill smile and nod closing the door behind him as he left. After a few minutes of silent contemplation Jeff began the task of cleaning the dust and cobwebs away as his mind poured over the many things Alan had said over the past few days.
